Sea anchor



J. E. MEYER March 19, 1957 SEA ANCHOR Filed Oct. 22. 1953 @HHHH INVENTOR. JOHN E. MEYER $6101 & Kine-x A 'IORNEY IN FILT FOR flPPLICANT SEA ANCHOR.

John E. Meyer, Chula Vista, Calif.

Application October 22, 1953, Serial No. 387,645

1 Claim. (Cl. 114-209) The present invention relates generally to boat equipment and more particularly to asub-surface sea. anchor panel having improved bridle attachment means and means to assure vertical orientation of the sea anchor.

The primary object of this invention isto provide a sea anchor of flat, flexible construction which may be used as a sub-surface anchor for preventing undue drifting of boats, particularly at night, during certain fishing operations and during storms, the anchor being submerged to a considerable depth when in normal use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sea anchor panel which has extremely sturdy edge construction with rugged bridle attachment means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sea anchor panel having an integral supporting frame which is sufiiciently flexible to enable the device to be folded for storage or for the additional uses mentioned above, it being understood that the term frame used herein connotes cordage secured to the edges of the panel and technically known as a bolt rope or roping.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sea anchor having improved, simple flotation and ballasting means to enable its suspension at the required depth and in the vertical position in the water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sea anchor which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a sea anchor of the aforementioned character which is simple, safe and convenient to use, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the sea anchor in operating position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing the construction of one corner of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the edge clamps used in the device.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the sea anchor attached to a vessel.

Referring now to the drawing, the sea anchor comprises a fiat panel 1!) of canvas or the like, having a flexible supporting frame 12. The corners of the supporting frame 12 have inte ral loops 1 5 to which are attached the ends of the bridle 16, said bridle being attached to the vessel using the device by a mooring line 18. In the suspended position as shown in Fig. l, a float 29 is attached to the upper edge of the panel 19, and a pair of ballast weights ited States Patent Patented Mar. 19, 1957 2 22 are fastened to the lower edge thereof. The panel 10 is. generally rectangular in outline and has rolled or piped edges 24, 26, 28 and 30, the fabric "being secured in an approved manner by two parallel lines of. stitching'32. The corners of the panel are reinforced by gussets 34, which are secured by the stitching 32 and by additional stitching 36 along the long. edges of the guss'ets.

The supporting frame 12 comprises a length of-rope. 38, or the like,,also referred to hereinafter as a linear element of great tensile strength, which is threaded through the piped edges 24-410, the ends of the rope being suitably spliced to form a continuous element. At each corner, the rope 38 is looped, as indicated at14, the end of: the rope being, passed between thestrands. 40 of, the preceding portion of the rope as shown in Fig. 2. In other, words, portionsof the rope extendthrough adjacent portions, as indicated at 40, and the parts of the rope between said, portions constitute the loops. 14. A thimble. 42 is fitted into each loop 14 for reinforcement and is securedby binding with cord 44 in an approved manner well known to those skilled in the art.

Adjacent each corner, the rope 38 is held tightly within the piped edges by means of clamps 46. The pipeded-ges 24-30 are reinforced at the clam positions 'by flexible clamp pads 48, of leather or the like, which are secured by stitching 50. The clamps 46 each comprise a buckle 52 to which one end 54 0f. a strap 56 is. attached. The strap 56 is passed through slits 55 in the clamp pad 4& and through corresponding slits 66 in the panel 19, the buckle 52 being placed on the outside of said clamp pad so that the strap 56 encircles the piped edge and the rope 38. The free end 62 of the strap 56 is then threaded through the loops 64 and 66 of the buckle 52 and pulled tight, said free end then being return folded over the loop 66 as indicated at 68, and passed again through the loop 64. The end is finally locked by folding over the loop 64, so holding the clamp 46 tightly in place as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be evident from the foregoing that the panel 10 is provided with a very sturdy edge construction which is combined with bridle attachment means of rugged character.

The bridle 16 comprises a pair of flexible yokes 70 of rope or the like, each having a central loop 72 and end loops 74. The end loops 74 are attached to the loops 14 on the sea anchor by means of shackles 76. The central loops 72 are together secured to the looped end 78 of the mooring line 18 by a swivel link 79 to allow for twists in said mooring line.

Each edge of the panel 16 is fitted with a plurality of grommets 80 disposed in spaced relation between the two lines of stitching 32 so that the panel may be tied or secured as required.

The ballast Weights 22 are secured by cords 82 through the grommets Si in the piped edge 26, which thus becomes the lower edge when the sea anchor is suspended in the water. The fioat 20 is attached by a suspension line 84 to a suspension yoke 86 which is secured through the grommets 80 in thep iped edge 24, said piped edge thus becoming the upper edge of the sea anchor.

It should be understood that the construction of the device is carried out according to well known standards, the various fittings such as the shackles 76 and thimbles 42 being conventional parts.

When used as a sea anchor, the device is suspended in the water in the position shown in Fig. 5, the mooring line 18 being attached to the vessel using the sea anchor.

The depth of the sea anchor below the surface is governed by the length of the suspension line 84 according to re,- quirements. This sea anchor is particularly eificient when positioned a considerable distance below the surface. For example, a sea anchor measuring approximately 20 feet along the sides is best suspended from 30 to 40 feet below the surface to escape. the surface currents. It has been found that this flat type of sea anchor greatly reduces drift of the vessel moored thereto.

The use of a flexible supporting frame 12 permits the device to be readily folded into a compact space for storage, a feature not possible with other types of sea anchors having rigid frames. A further advantage of this flexibility is that the device may be used as a deck awning or covering when not in use as a sea anchor. 'Ihe grommets 80 provide ample means for securing the panel by suitable cords.

The panel 10 may also be used as an emergency sail, either flat or folded diagonally to form a triangular sail. The grommets 80 again provide means for tying the device in position. The bridle 16 is, of course, disconnected when the device is used as a deck awning or sail,- the shackles being of a suitable removable type, many of which are available. It will thus be evident that the multipurpose device is an extremely useful item of boat equipment and requires only a small space for storage.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim: v

A sub-surface sea anchor comprising a flexible imperforate panel of generally rectangular shape, said panel having rolled edges, a frame consisting entirely of roping contained and secured in said rolled edges, said roping having loops at the corners of said panel, said panel having a plurality of spaced grommets adjacent the edges thereof for attachment of securing means, a float, a flexible suspension cord securing said float to said grommets at one edge of said panel, and ballast weights secured to said grommets at the edge of the panel opposite said float to sink the panel to a considerable depth in the water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,708 Southard Oct. 8, 1850 214,916 Doane May 6, 1879 214,966 Doane May 6, 1879 378,171 McCarthy Feb. 21, 1888 1,012,890 Miller Dec. 26, 1911 1,618,613 Turner Feb. 22, 1927 1,829,413 Kozlay Oct. 27, 1931 2,562,005 Wenzel et al July 24, 1951 2,604,897 Cottor et a1 July 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 197 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1890 1,991 Great Britain of 1884 

